Seat with armrest(s) and associated transport vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (18) comprising a backrest (20), a seat (22), a foot (24), a shell (26) covering, at least partially, the rear and the lateral parts of the backrest and covering, at least partially, the lower surface and the lateral parts of the seat (22), and at least one side armrest (28), the side armrest is connected by mechanical linkage to the seat shell configured to make the side armrest movable, between a first low position (PB) of retraction and lateral access to the seat and a second high position (PH) of armrest, the armrest face of the side armrest (28) having a distal end (ED), relative to the backrest, the height of which in the first low position of the side armrest is less than the height of the distal end, relative to the backrest, of the armrest face of the side armrest in the second high position of armrest.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat for a transport vehicle comprising a backrest, a seat, a seat foot fixed to the floor of the vehicle, a shell covering, at least partially, the rear and the lateral parts of the seat backrest and covering, at least partially, the lower surface and the lateral parts of the seat, and at least one lateral armrest.

[0002] Such a seat is intended to accommodate a passenger in a seated position in a passenger transport vehicle.

[0003] The present invention also relates to an associated transport vehicle, the transport vehicle comprising such a seat. Such a passenger transport vehicle includes, in particular, a railway vehicle, a bus, a tram, a ship, an aircraft, or any other vehicle configured to carry a plurality of passengers.

[0004] In the field of passenger transport, particularly rail transport, it is common practice to provide a passenger compartment in which passenger seats are arranged one behind the other, most often parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Document EP 2910412 A1 discloses a seat comprising a shell and a movable armrest.

[0005] In order to improve passenger comfort, such seats are generally equipped with at least one side armrest, particularly located on the aisle side, in order to more explicitly delimit the seating area of ​​each passenger in relation to an adjacent passenger.

[0006] However, such a solution is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, current armrest solutions are generally not suitable for priority seating accessible to people with reduced mobility, particularly for rail transport, according to European Union Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300 / 2014 of 18 November 2014 on technical specifications for interoperability relating to the accessibility of the Union rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, known as "TSI PRM". Priority seating typically represents at least 10% of a train.

[0007] In particular, as illustrated by the figure 1 schematically representing a side view of two seats 10 aligned one behind the other in the direction of travel of the railway vehicle, according to this European Union regulation, each seat 10 must be spaced respecting an accessibility volume 12, each seat being fixed to the floor 14 of the railway vehicle and having a seating surface 16. According to the accessibility volume 12 defined by this regulation, the front end of the seat of a seat, in other words the distal end of the seat in relation to the seat back, must be spaced at least 230 mm from the back of the seat preceding it, while the proximal end of the seat in relation to the back of the seat 10 must be spaced at least 680 mm from the back of the seat preceding it.

[0008] Current armrest solutions do not allow such unobstructed access to seat 10, either because the armrest remains fixed, or because, in the position allowing access to the seat, the access space does not comply with the aforementioned accessibility volume 12 as required by the TSI PMR (Swiss Standard for Accessibility for People with Reduced Mobility). Furthermore, some current armrest solutions are characterized by an armrest position that allows access to the seat where the armrest is likely to strike the legs of a passenger seated behind the seat associated with that armrest.

[0009] One objective of the present invention is to improve seat comfort and the protection of the associated private seating space while complying with the TSI PMR and avoiding any collision with a passenger seated behind the seat associated with the armrest in question.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a seat for a transport vehicle comprising a backrest, a seat cushion, a seat base fixed to the floor of the vehicle, a shell covering, at least partially, the rear and lateral parts of the seat backrest and covering, at least partially, the lower surface and lateral parts of the seat cushion, and at least one lateral armrest, the lateral armrest being mechanically connected to the seat shell, the mechanical connection to the seat shell being configured to make the lateral armrest movable, between a first low position for retraction and lateral access to the seat cushion and a second high position for armrest support, the armrest face of the lateral armrest having a distal end, the height of the distal end, relative to the backrest, of the armrest face of the lateral armrest being, in the first low position of the lateral armrest, less than the height of the distal end, relative to the backrest,of the armrest face of the side armrest in the second high armrest position.

[0011] The seat according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination: The side armrest is connected by pivot joint, or by sliding joint, to the seat shell, the side armrest being movable, between a first low position of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat and a second high position of armrest, respectively, according to a direction of rotation from the seat towards the backrest via the front of the seat, or according to a translation guided by said sliding joint; in the low position of retraction and lateral access, the side armrest extends laterally from the passenger seating plane or is completely located under this passenger seating plane.In the lowered position for retracted and lateral access, the side armrest is located substantially in front of the plumb line of the proximal end of the seat relative to the backrest, while being located substantially behind the plumb line of the distal end of the seat relative to the seat back; in the upper armrest position, the one-piece side armrest has a height, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vehicle floor, of between 250 and 350 mm; in the upper armrest position, the one-piece side armrest has a length, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of movement of the vehicle, of between 300 and 400 mm; the value of the angle of rotation to go from the first low position of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat to the second high position of armrest is at least equal to 75°, preferably substantially equal to 90°.The shell includes a locking gear for the side armrest in the second high armrest position. The unlocking mechanism is activated by a first rotation of the side armrest through a predetermined angle in a first direction from the seat towards the backrest, followed by a second rotation of the backrest in the opposite direction from the backrest towards the seat, returning it to the first low position for retracting and lateral access to the seat via the front of the seat. The predetermined angle of the first gear unlocking rotation is preferably between 15° and 25°. The seat base has a shape configured to unobstruct the side armrest in the first low position for retracting and lateral access to the seat.

[0012] The invention also relates to a transport vehicle comprising at least one seat as described above.

[0013] These features and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic representation of a side view of two seats aligned one behind the other and the associated accessibility volume in accordance with the STI PMR as described above; [ Fig 2 ] there figure 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of a seat with two distinct armrest positions and the associated movement kinematics according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [ Fig 3 ] there figure 3 is a schematic representation of a front view of a lower part of the seat according to this first embodiment of the present invention; [ Fig 4 ] there figure 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] In the following description, the term "approximately" is understood as a relationship of equality to plus or minus 10%, that is to say with a variation of at most 10%, preferably even as a relationship of equality to plus or minus 5%, that is to say with a variation of at most 5%.

[0015] A seat 18 of a transport vehicle according to the present invention is illustrated in the figures 2 à 4 . Such a seat 18 is more specifically intended to equip in particular a high-speed train or any long-distance train.

[0016] Such a seat 18 classically comprises a backrest 20, a seat 22 attached to one upper end of a leg 24 of the seat 18, the other lower end of the leg 24 being fixed to the floor surface 14 of the transport vehicle, a shell 26 covering, at least partially, the rear and the lateral parts of the backrest 20 of the seat 18 and covering, at least partially, the lower surface and the lateral parts of the seat 22. The seat 18 further comprises at least one lateral armrest 28.

[0017] Such a side armrest 28 is located in particular on the aisle side. Preferably, according to an embodiment not shown, the seat 18 comprises two side armrests 28 located on either side of the seat 18.

[0018] Advantageously, according to a first embodiment of the present invention illustrated by the figures 2 And 3, the side armrest 28 is connected to the shell 26 of the seat 18 by a mechanical link, corresponding to a pivot link 30 according to this first embodiment, the side armrest 28 being mobile, between a first low position PB of erasure and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 and a second high position PH of armrest with an armrest face having with respect to the backrest 20 a proximal end EP and a distal end ED , according to a direction R of rotation from the seat 22 towards the backrest 20 passing through the front of the seat 18.

[0019] According to the invention, in the lower PB position for retraction and lateral access, the side armrest 28 extends laterally from the passenger seat PA or is completely located under this passenger seat PA,

[0020] Furthermore, the height from the ground 14, of the distal end ED, from the backrest 20, of the armrest face of the side armrest 28 is, in the first low position PB of the side armrest 28, less than the height (i.e. from the ground 14) of the distal end ED, from the backrest 20, of the armrest face of the side armrest 28 in the second high position PH of the armrest.

[0021] By high position PH of armrest, it is understood that in this position, the side armrest 28 is configured so that the passenger can rest his arm easily (i.e. without difficulty), while by low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 it is understood that in this retracted position, the side armrest 18 is configured to retract completely from the passenger seating plane so that the passenger can access the seat without any obstruction in accordance with the STI PMR.

[0022] In other words, according to the present invention, the armrest(s) 28 are "retractable" in the lower position PB via a simple, easily manipulated mechanism, corresponding to a downward rotation through the front of the seat, thus preserving unobstructed passenger access to the seat. Conversely, in the upper armrest position PH, obtained via a reverse mechanism corresponding to an upward rotation through the front of the seat 18, the side armrest 28 provides a private space for the passenger. Both seat accessibility and resulting comfort are therefore improved by the present invention.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it should be noted that the side armrest 28 is connected by pivot joint 30 to the shell 26 of the seat 18 and not to the seat 22 or the backrest 20, which allows the seat to be independent of the armrest and in particular allows the seat 22 to be replaced without having to dismantle the side armrest 28, or even allows the position of the side armrest 28 to be independent of the tilt of the seat 18, the latter being, for example, modifiable by means of a tilting mechanism activated by means of a handle, not shown, provided within the seat 22. In other words, changing the tilt of the seat 18 has no effect on the position of the side armrest 28.

[0024] As illustrated by the figure 2 According to a particular optional aspect, the rear of each seat 18 is also equipped with at least one retractable shelf 32 between a storage position within a housing provided in the rear face of the seat back 20 of the seat 18 and a deployed position so that the passenger seated on the seat behind the seat 18 in question can place various objects on this shelf, including an electronic device including a screen, such as an electronic tablet or a smartphone.

[0025] In addition, according to another optional special feature, the rear of each seat 18 is also equipped with a movable footrest 34 between a high storage position and a low position so that the passenger seated on the seat behind the seat 18 in question can rest their feet.

[0026] According to a particular aspect of the invention, in the low position PB for retraction and lateral access to the seat 18, the side armrest 28 is substantially located in front of the plumb line 36 of the proximal end of the seat 22 relative to the backrest 20, while being substantially located behind the plumb line 38 of the distal end of the seat relative to the backrest 20 of the seat 18. In other words, in the low position PB for retraction and lateral access to the seat 18, the engagement of the side armrest 28 in the seating volume of a rear passenger located on a seat, not shown, placed behind the seat 18 in question, is moderate and limited by the plumb line 36 of the proximal end of the seat 22 relative to the backrest 20.

[0027] According to this aspect, preferably, in the low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat 18, the entire side armrest 28 is located substantially in front of the rear face of the foot 24 of the seat 18, in order to avoid any engagement of the side armrest 28 in the seating space of the passenger installed on the seat behind the seat 18 in question, and thus to avoid hitting the legs of this passenger when handling the side armrest 28 to place it in the retraction position PB or reducing the luggage storage space under the seat 18 in question.

[0028] Furthermore, in the high PH position of the armrest, the one-piece side armrest 28 has a length 40, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of movement of the vehicle, of between 300 and 400 mm.

[0029] Advantageously, in the high position PH of the armrest, the one-piece side armrest 28 has a height 42, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the floor 14 of the vehicle, of between 250 and 350 mm. In other words, the side armrest 28 has a height greater than that of conventional armrests, and is therefore described as "high".

[0030] A height of 42 for the armrest 28, between 250 and 350 mm, allows the passenger to be isolated from the rest of the transport vehicle, particularly if the seat 18 is equipped with two armrests, one on each side. Furthermore, an armrest 28 with a height H between 250 and 350 mm on the aisle side protects the passenger seated in seat 18 from impacts (luggage, passengers moving in the aisle, etc.) and thus increases the perceived comfort of the passenger seated in seat 18.

[0031] According to another particular aspect of the invention, the value of the angle of rotation R for moving from the first low position PB for retracting and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 to the second high position PH for armrest is at least 75°. For example, as shown in the figure 2 , the value of the rotation angle R to go from the first low position PB of erasure and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 to the second high position PH of armrest is approximately equal to 90°, or even 180° according to a variant not shown.

[0032] According to an optional complementary aspect, the shell 26 includes a gear, not shown, for locking the side armrest 28 in the second high position PH of the armrest, the unlocking of which is activated in the presence of a first rotation R 1 according to a predetermined angle of the side armrest 28, in a first direction from the seat towards the backrest 20, followed by a second rotation R 2 of the side armrest 28 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, i.e. from the backrest 20 towards the seat 22, to return to the first low position PB of removal and lateral access to the seat 22 by way of the front of the seat 18.

[0033] In other words, two separate actions by the passenger are required to move from the high position PH of armrest to the low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat 22, which makes it possible to avoid any change in position of the side armrest 28 without voluntary action by a passenger of the transport vehicle.

[0034] More specifically, according to a particular variant of this optional complementary aspect, the value of the predetermined angle of the first rotation R 1 of gear unlocking is between 15° and 25°.

[0035] As an alternative to implementing the two successive rotations R 1 and R 2, to prevent accidental removal of the armrest, the side armrest 28 includes a pallet, not shown, for mechanically unlocking the rotation of the side armrest 28 in the second direction from the backrest 20 to the seat 22, to return to the first low position PB for removal and lateral access to the seat 22 via the front of the seat 18.

[0036] In relation to the figure 3 schematically representing a front view of a lower part of the seat, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the lower position PB of retraction and lateral access, the side armrest 28 extends laterally the passenger seating plane PA or is substantially, or even completely, located under this passenger seating plane PA.

[0037] Furthermore, according to an optional additional aspect of this first embodiment, the seat leg 24 of the seat 18 has a shape configured to unobstructedly accommodate the side armrest 28 in its first lower position PB, allowing for retraction and lateral access to the seat 22. In other words, according to this first embodiment, the leg 24 is set back from the side armrest 28 to facilitate its rotation R. This setback of the leg 24 then implies a reduction in the available width under the seat 18 for storing luggage.

[0038] As an alternative, a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by the figure 4 where, for simplicity, the elements are identical to the first embodiment, illustrated by the figures 2 And 3 are referenced by identical numerical references. It should be noted that the side armrest size characteristics 28 indicated in relation to the first embodiment are also applicable to this second embodiment.

[0039] Furthermore, according to this second embodiment illustrated by the figure 4 , as with the first embodiment, the side armrest 28 is connected by mechanical linkage to the shell 26 of the seat 18, the mechanical linkage to the shell 26 of the seat 18 being configured to make the side armrest 28 mobile, between a first low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 and a second high position PH of armrest.

[0040] The height (relative to the floor 14) of the distal end ED, relative to the backrest 20, of the armrest face of the side armrest 28 is, in the first low position PB of the side armrest 28, less than the height (relative to the floor 14) of the distal end ED, relative to the backrest 20, of the armrest face of the side armrest 28 in the second high position PH of the armrest.

[0041] Preferably, in the low PB position for removal and lateral access, the side armrest (28) extends laterally from the passenger PA seating plane or is completely located under this passenger PA seating plane.

[0042] The second embodiment illustrated by the figure 4 differs from the first embodiment illustrated by the figure 1 , in that the mechanical linkage is a sliding linkage in the side of the shell 26 of the seat 18 allowing a translational movement T of the lateral armrest 28 between the low position PB for retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 and the high position PH for armrest, as illustrated by the side view VC of the figure 4 .

[0043] In other words, according to this second embodiment, the side armrest 28, in order to reach the low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18, is retractable (i.e. retracts) by translation towards the ground 14 (i.e. towards the bottom of the seat 18) from the high position PH of armrest, and is then no longer an obstacle for the passenger wanting to get in or out of his seat 18.

[0044] More specifically, as illustrated by the exploded view VE of the figure 4 , such a sliding connection is obtained by routing, in a slide 46 created in the lateral part of the shell 26, a guide device DG of the lateral armrest 28, for example made by a plate 48 equipped with rollers 50, this plate 48 being suitable for routing in the slide 46 created in the lateral part of the shell 26, thus allowing the translation of the lateral armrest 28. In other words, the "nose" corresponding to the proximal end EP, with respect to the backrest 20, of the armrest face of the lateral armrest 28 rises, to move from the low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18 to the high position PH of armrest, following the inclination of the shell 26.

[0045] Advantageously, this second embodiment avoids any engagement of the side armrest 28 in the seating space of the passenger installed on the seat behind the seat 18 in question, particularly in the low position PB of retraction and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18, which thus avoids hitting the legs of this passenger when manipulating the side armrest 28 to place it in the retraction position PB.

[0046] Furthermore, this second embodiment by sliding connection of the side armrest 28 to the shell 26 of the seat 18, illustrated by the figure 4 Furthermore, it allows for the optimization / conservation of luggage capacity under seat 18 because the foot 24 of seat 18 can be aligned with the side armrest 28. In other words, according to this second embodiment, there is no interference between the foot 24 and the side armrest 28 during the translation T of the latter by sliding connection.

[0047] According to a particular optional and complementary aspect of this second embodiment, the sliding joint is configured to provide at least one stable intermediate position between the two extreme positions of the side armrest 28, corresponding on the one hand to the low position PB for retraction and lateral access to the seat 18, and on the other hand to the high position PH for armrest support. Depending on each of the positions of the side armrest 28 provided by the sliding joint, the armrest face, having a proximal end EP and a distal end ED relative to the backrest 20, is positioned parallel to the seat 22 according to the inclination of the seat 18.

[0048] Furthermore, in addition to this optional feature, the side armrest 28 includes a mechanical lever 52 located on its outer face to allow movement of the armrest 28, enabling its position to be changed to one of the stable positions provided by the sliding linkage. In other words, according to this optional feature, several stable positions can be obtained during the translation T of the side armrest 28, thus allowing for height adjustment, relative to the floor 14, of the armrest surface of the side armrest 28. This height adjustment of the armrest surface allows it to adapt to the body shape of different passengers and also allows the height of the armrest to be adjusted according to the inclination of the seat 18.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this second embodiment, if the foot 24 of the seat 18 has lighting / marking of the aisle of the transport vehicle, then the translational kinematics T of the side armrest 28 makes it possible to guarantee this lighting / marking function even when the side armrest 28 is in the low position PB of erasure and lateral access to the seat of said seat 18.

[0050] The present invention thus makes it possible to further privatize the space of the passenger seated in seat 18, thereby contributing to a "bubble," "comfort," or "cocooning" effect for the passenger. This is achieved by ensuring easy access in the lowered, retracted position, in accordance with the requirements of the STI PMR (Swiss Standard for People with Reduced Mobility), while preventing the side armrest 28 from colliding with a passenger seated in the seat behind it. The overall comfort of the transport vehicle equipped with a seat according to the present invention is consequently improved.

Claims

1. Seat (18) of a transport vehicle comprising a backrest (20), a squab (22), a seat base (24) attached to the vehicle floor (14), a shell (26) covering, at least partially, the back and the lateral parts of the backrest (20) of the seat (18) and covering, at least partially, the lower surface and the lateral parts of the squab (22), and at least one lateral armrest (28), characterised in that the lateral armrest (28) is mechanically connected to the shell (26) of the seat (18), the mechanical connection to the shell (26) of the seat (18) being configured to make the lateral armrest (28) movable, between a first low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access to the squab of said seat (18) and a second high arm-support position (PH ), the arm-support face of the lateral armrest (28) having a distal end (ED ), the height of the distal end (ED ), with respect to the backrest (20), of the arm-support face of the lateral armrest (28) being, in the first low position (PB ) of the lateral armrest (28), lower than the height of the distal end (ED ), with respect to the backrest (20), of the arm-support face of the lateral armrest (28) in the second high arm-support position (PH ), in the low position (PB) of retraction and lateral access, the lateral armrest (28) extends the passenger squab surface (PA ) laterally or is located completely below this passenger seat surface (PA ), in the high arm-support position (PH ), the lateral armrest (28), in one piece, has a height (42), in a direction substantially perpendicular to the floor (14) of the vehicle, of between 250 and 350 mm, and in the high arm-support position (PH ), the lateral armrest (28), in one piece, has a length (40), in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of movement of the vehicle, of between 300 and 400 mm.

2. Seat (18) according to claim 1, wherein the lateral armrest (28) is connected by pivot connection, or by slide connection, to the shell (26) of the seat (18), the lateral armrest (28) being movable, between a first low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access to the squab of said seat (18) and a second high arm-support position (PH ), respectively, in a rotation direction (R) starting from the squab (22) towards the backrest (20) passing through the front of the seat (18), or in a translation (T) guided by said slide connection.

3. Seat (18) according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access, the lateral armrest (28) is substantially located in front of the plumb line (36) of the proximal end of the squab with respect to the backrest (20), while being substantially located at the rear of the plumb line (38) of the distal end of the squab with respect to the backrest (20) of the seat (18).

4. Seat (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the value of the angle of rotation (R) to move from the first low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access to the squab of said seat (18) to the second high arm-support position (PH) is at least equal to 75°, preferably substantially equal to 90°.

5. Seat (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (26) comprises gears for locking the lateral armrest (28) in the second high arm-support position (PH ), the release of which is activated in the presence of a first rotation (R1 ) at a predetermined angle of the lateral armrest (28) in a first direction of the squab toward the backrest (20), followed by a second rotation (R2 ) of the lateral armrest (28) in a second reverse direction of the backrest (20) towards the squab (22) to return to the first low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access to the squab passing through the front of the squab (18), the value of the predetermined angle of the first gear release rotation (R1 ) preferably being between 15° and 25°.

6. Seat (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (24) of the seat (18) has a shape configured to accommodate the lateral armrest (28) without hindrance in the first low position (PB ) of retraction and lateral access to the seat.

7. Transport vehicle, including at least one seat (18) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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